MEMS device for producing a lemniscate pattern to counter zigzag effect

Abstract

A MEMS device, a printer and a method of printing is presented including providing a light source producing a modulated beam of light, positioning a mirror with a reflective surface to intercept the modulated beam of light. Allowing the mirror to rotate on a single-axis hinge structure such that the resultant reflected beam is swept in a scan plane and creating an image at an intersection of the scan plane and an image plane. Causing the mirror to rotate about the single-axis hinge structure and to oscillate at a tilt about the single-axis hinge structure, wherein the resultant reflected beam of light forms a lemniscate pattern along the image plane, and wherein the lemniscate pattern has an inner angle between a left sweep segment and a right sweep segment of the image. Synchronizing the inner angle of the lemniscate pattern formed on the image plane to a motion of a photosensitive medium such that an image is formed on the photosensitive medium along lines substantially parallel to each other and orthogonal to the movement of the photosensitive medium.

1. A printer comprising:
 a light source providing a modulated beam of light; 
 a first device including:
 a mirror with a reflective surface positioned to intercept the modulated beam of light; 
 a single-axis hinge structure for rotating the mirror such that the resultant reflected beam is swept in a scan plane and creates an image at an intersection of the scan plane and an image plane, wherein the single-axis hinge structure includes an asymmetrical stiffness matrix; 
 a first driver system that causes the mirror to rotate about the single-axis hinge structure and to oscillate at a tilt about the single-axis hinge structure, wherein the resultant reflected beam of light forms a lemniscate pattern along the image plane, wherein the lemniscate pattern has an inner angle between a left sweep segment and a right sweep segment of the image; 
 
 a second device including:
 a photosensitive medium with a first dimension substantially along the intersection of the scan plane and image plane, the photosensitive medium located to receive the image of the reflected beam of light as the reflected beam of light is swept along the intersection; and 
 a second device driver that causes the photosensitive medium to move in a second dimension substantially orthogonal to the first dimension, wherein the inner angle of the lemniscate pattern formed on the image plane is coordinated to the motion of the photosensitive medium such that the image is formed on the photosensitive medium along lines substantially parallel to each other and orthogonal to the movement of the photosensitive medium, 
 
 wherein the single-axis hinge structure comprises: 
 a first centerline extending the length of the first side of the single-axis hinge structure; and 
 a second centerline extending the length of the second side of the single-axis hinge structure, wherein the first centerline and the second centerline are parallel and offset from each other in the plane of the single-axis hinge structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The printer of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is a MEMS device. 
     
     
       3. The printer of  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive medium moves at a constant speed in the second dimension. 
     
     
       4. The printer of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotary drum wherein the rotary drum causes the photosensitive medium to rotate. 
     
     
       5. A printer comprising:
 a light source providing a modulated beam of light; 
 a first device including:
 a mirror with a reflective surface positioned to intercept the modulated beam of light; 
 a single-axis hinge structure for rotating the mirror such that the resultant reflected beam is swept in a scan plane and creates an image at an intersection of the scan plane and an image plane, wherein the single-axis hinge structure includes an asymmetrical stiffness matrix; 
 a first driver system that causes the mirror to rotate about the single-axis hinge structure and to oscillate at a tilt about the single-axis hinge structure, wherein the resultant reflected beam of light forms a lemniscate pattern along the image plane, wherein the lemniscate pattern has an inner angle between a left sweep segment and a right sweep segment of the image; 
 
 a second device including:
 a photosensitive medium with a first dimension substantially along the intersection of the scan plane and image plane, the photosensitive medium located to receive the image of the reflected beam of light as the reflected beam of light is swept along the intersection; and 
 a second device driver that causes the photosensitive medium to move in a second dimension substantially orthogonal to the first dimension, wherein the inner angle of the lemniscate pattern formed on the image plane is coordinated to the motion of the photosensitive medium such that the image is formed on the photosensitive medium along lines substantially parallel to each other and orthogonal to the movement of the photosensitive medium, 
 
 wherein the asymmetrical stiffness matrix comprises: 
 a first additional material added to a single-axis hinge structure root at a first intersection region with the mirror and the single-axis hinge structure on a first side of the mirror; and 
 a second additional material added to a single-axis hinge structure root at a second intersection region with the mirror and the single-axis hinge structure on a second side of the mirror, wherein the first additional material is added to a location diagonally across the center of a plane of the mirror from the second additional material. 
 
     
     
       6. A printer comprising:
 a light source providing a modulated beam of light; 
 a first device including:
 a mirror with a reflective surface positioned to intercept the modulated beam of light; 
 a single-axis hinge structure for rotating the mirror such that the resultant reflected beam is swept in a scan plane and creates an image at an intersection of the scan plane and an image plane, wherein the single-axis hinge structure employs non-symmetrical hinge anchors; 
 a first driver system that causes the mirror to rotate about the single-axis hinge structure and to oscillate at a tilt about the single-axis hinge structure, wherein the resultant reflected beam of light forms a lemniscate pattern along the image plane, wherein the lemniscate pattern has an inner angle between a left sweep segment and a right sweep segment of the image; 
 
 a second device including:
 a photosensitive medium with a first dimension substantially along the intersection of the scan plane and image plane, the photosensitive medium located to receive the image of the reflected beam of light as the reflected beam of light is swept along the intersection; and 
 a second device driver that causes the photosensitive medium to move in a second dimension substantially orthogonal to the first dimension, wherein the inner angle of the lemniscate pattern formed on the image plane is coordinated to the motion of the photosensitive medium such that the image is formed on the photosensitive medium along lines substantially parallel to each other and orthogonal to the movement of the photosensitive medium, 
 
 wherein the single-axis hinge structure comprises hinge anchors adhered asymmetrically. 
 
     
     
       7. The printer of  claim 6 , wherein the first device is a MEMS device. 
     
     
       8. The printer of  claim 6 , wherein the photosensitive medium moves at a constant speed in the second dimension. 
     
     
       9. The printer of  claim 6 , further comprising a rotary drum wherein the rotary drum causes the photosensitive medium to rotate.